Purcore X MHCI
What problem are we solving?
The three main things that caused physical injuries are misinformation, misconception of one's capabilities and latency in action to address risk of injury in daily movements
Goal
To develop a cohesive product-service-system that explores delivery and compliance of exercise programs in users in a non-traditional PT setting.
Target Users
Both active and sedentary people who are uninjured, unaware of injury prevention, and not taking action to treat existing injuries
Why
Through talking to users, we learned that most people only become aware of injury prevention once they actually get injured - we need to intervene in the process leading up to that "wake-up call"; Through market research we realized there's no existing solution in the market for injury prevention
Key Insights
Through a variety of research methods, we've uncovered valuable insights that inform decisions and guide future actions
Insight #1
People get injured when misguided by unreliable online and external sources because it is convenient, accessible and entertaining
Context
Injuries occur due to how accessible, convenient, and entertaining online and external sources are in comparison to conventional avenues of physical therapy and exercise education
Learnings
- People can be easily misled by exercises and movements they see on social media. While these exercises may be engaging and entertaining, they are often unreliable.
- Users have various options for exercising, including workout videos and gym partners. They find these options convenient and accessible for learning physical training in daily life, regardless of credibility.
- Users engage with media, such as podcasts and videos, during workouts because it helps pass the time, despite the risk of injuries and falls due to concentration.
What our users had to say
Learn about the experiences and feedback of our users in their own words
“It's too easy to quit”
Number one reason why people quit these [physical therapy] programs is just people falling off their program and go back to their old habits... It's a lot of time and commitment. I think mental health and motivation is definitely another thing playing a role
“PT? Sounds intense”
I guess with physical therapy, I always thought ‘hey, that’s for really intense athletes and people who like, get into accidents and stuff, right? I don’t know of anyone who goes to PT without being seriously injured.
Insight #2
People get injured due to their varying goals, emotions and mental motivations which affect their physical capacity and objective understanding of “good movement”, sometimes overriding it.
Context
People get injured due to their varying goals, emotions and mental motivations which affect their physical capacity and objective understanding of “good movement”, sometimes overriding it.
Learnings
- Users choose different movement types based on their personal motivations, preferences, and goals.
- Users often overexert themselves during a workout, seeking excitement, while after an injury, they may underperform due to fear of ReInjury and deconditioning as the brain tries to avoid further harm.
- Users who have successfully dealt with injuries/pain before knowing their limits because of the strong muscle memory that came from first-hand experience.
- Users care about both whether they are safe, and how they are staying safe while in movement.
What our users had to say
Learn about the experiences and feedback of our users in their own words
“Whether I want to take risks depends on my mood”
Whether I want to take risks depends on my mood... The move was actually a bit risky, but I thought I can make it because I'm feeling the energy. I was feeling all so strong, mentally and physically.
“We push each other to do more”
The biggest value of going to the gym with gym buddies is motivation. We push each other to do more. We will say to each other: “If you do two more reps, you will get a job at X company”
Insight #3
Everyone can get injured irrespective of their lifestyle and athleticism (sedentary or active). However, the types of injury, intensity, and frequency of injuries have a direct correlation with their proactive care.
Context
Injuries often result from a lack of education and awareness about injury prevention and proper movement techniques, and it often takes an injury to prompt individuals to become more receptive to learning.
Learnings
- Users with sedentary lifestyle are more prone to injuries because of their lack of awareness regarding the repercussions of an inactive life.
- Users who are currently uninjured, inactive or unaware of proper exercise techniques require a specialized injury prevention solution to avoid injury, regardless of their activity level.
- Users need better injury tracking solutions to avoid overexertion, pain, and uncertainty in stretching form caused by poor mind-muscle connection and proprioception.
- Users require a comprehensive solution that considers their nutrition and sleep habits and enables them to become more conscious of their body while supporting them in staying physically active
What our users had to say
Learn about the experiences and feedback of our users in their own words
“There are times where I simply do not care about exercise ”
When I have a lot of schoolwork all I want to do is eat junk food and I know that makes me a worse athlete and less healthy, but there are times where I simply do not care about exercise.
“Not my top priority”
I know it’s bad because going to the gym helps me mentally, but it’s just not my top priority.
